“My name is Steve Richards, and I joined as a Junior Marine in 1978, and was commissioned in 1992, leaving as a Lieutenant Colonel.
I served in 40 Commando, 45 Commando, Commando Helicopter Forces, Amphib Forces HQ and the MOD. I served in Northern Ireland-Balkans-Iraq-Afghan-West Africa and was awarded four operational commendations.
I completed 36 years’ service but was medically discharged in 2014 due to PTSD and associated auto-immune disorders. This came as a huge disappointment but that does not distract from my pride at serving with outstanding people in the finest Corps in the world.
My story is not of one a single event, but the drip-drip of multiple operational incidents and events that slowly filled my bucket that eventually overflowed.
My health collapsed in 2010 after cerebral malaria then swine flu from time in West Africa and I was sent to Headley Court for rehab. While there, I was ‘discovered’ by Hasler Sgt Maj, Jim Morris (who is now Transition Support Officer (South & Wales) RMA – The Royal Marines Charity) who was visiting all those other injured Bootnecks, many from Iraq and Afghan. (Hasler Naval Service Recovery Centre (NSRC) was set up in September 2009 to help commandos who were permanently scarred by battle recover from their wounds – or re-adjust their lives. It now helps men and women from across the Forces with long-term conditions, injuries and illnesses.)
I was in a wheelchair and unable to walk, and there - heroically or more like stupidly -thinking I could fix myself!
I was at such a low ebb physically and mentally, and going through marriage breakdown, that I was on suicide watch as I no longer wanted to live.
I had lost my credibility as a father, husband, RM and human being. Only my faith saved me, and my prayers were answered. Help did arrive, and so started my rehab with the excellent RM Hasler Company, a truly remarkable unit, led and staffed by outstanding selfless Royal Navy & Royal Marines personnel, and many of us owe a great debt of gratitude to these fine men and women. It was here my journey started with the RMA-The Royal Marines Charity.
It was in RM Hasler my PTSD was properly diagnosed which had caused me to lead a double life, but the associated auto-immune issues caused joint and internal organs to swell and chronic fatigue which kept me in a wheelchair. Mobility was impossible and I missed many treatments.
My first practical assistance from the Charity was a Segway with a seat that allowed me to get to PTSD counselling, hydrotherapy, and sports, art and social therapy and events. I still have this and use it when I attend my latest activity which was originally sponsored by the RMA-TRMC as a mentor at HorseBack UK. This charity set up by has supported and assisted hundreds of RMs and I am proud to have become a mentor after completing four weeks of therapy, all paid for by the RMA-The Royal Marines Charity.
After medical discharge, the RMA-TRMC helped pay for a wheelchair and hoist for my car when I was at a low ebb living on my own on Dartmoor. When living off-grid became too challenging, I was given assistance with moving costs, and now live closer to my family in a bungalow in the Quantock Hills in Somerset.
With my Segway and wheelchair for mobility, support and rewarding activities and the constant fellowship of other RM veterans and offers of activities, I am now in a good place.
My life is different to what I planned but I owe the RMA-The Royal Marines Charity a great deal: in fact it is no word of a lie; I doubt I would be here without their assistance.
On behalf of myself and my family, thank you for the moral and financial support, it is second to none.”
